Asbestos in soils

Standard details

CITB has developed this standard in discussion with industry

Duration

Minimum 1 and a half days of 9 learning hours total

Purpose/scope

The purpose of training delivered against this standard is to provide the delegate with the theoretical skills to undertake work on sites (brownfield and greenfield sites) which have been identified as having asbestos containing materials within the soils; or in which asbestos containing materials have been identified

The scope includes:

• the properties of asbestos and its effects on health
• the types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos materials in buildings and plant
• how to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos
• the general procedures to deal with an emergency, e.g. an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace
• legislation and an awareness of the relevant statutory instruments
• the site survey
• materials management plan
• inadvertent identification
• planned work
• case studies

Training delivered against this standard will not prepare candidates to carry out work with asbestos-containing materials.

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational groups:

• Operative and Craft
• Supervision
• Management
• Leadership

Candidate pre-requisites

There are no candidate pre-requisites as part of this standard.

Instruction/Supervision

As a minimum, course instructors must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

• A train the trainer or instructional techniques course certificate e.g. NVQ level 3 award in learning and development or higher
• Successfully completed training to this standard
• At least 3 years relevant industrial experience
• A verifiable CV

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for candidates to achieve learning outcomes, and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and candidate/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes.

The following delivery methods may be used in the delivery of this standard:

• classroom

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more theoretical training.

This standard is considered to be set at an intermediate level.

Assessment

For the successful completion of training, candidates must complete an end of course practical assessment or knowledge test that measures the learning outcomes and has a pass or fail criteria.

Quality assurance

Recognised

CITB will gain assurance through the third party’s quality arrangements.

Approved Training Organisation’s will be required to supply confirmation of approval (centre approval and scheme approval) with the related third party awarding organisation or body. In most cases this will be an approval certificate provided by the third party awarding organisation or body, listing the routes, qualifications and categories they are approved to deliver. In addition, a copy of the most recent external quality assurance monitoring report will be required, relating to the standard that you wish to be approved for.

This information will be reviewed by CITB’s quality assurance team. Approval will be subject to the required third party documentation being supplied by you. As part of the quality assurance checks, CITB may confirm the accuracy of documentation with the issuing organisation.

Renewal/Refresher

Non-mandatory refresher every year.

Approval date

To be confirmed

Review cycle

Either on request or in 3 year(s) from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The candidate will be able to:

• State the nature and properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the increased risk of lung cancer for asbestos workers who smoke, including, the difference in exposure from asbestos in soils and construction and demolition materials compared with exposure to asbestos in buildings.
• Describe the types, uses and likely occurrences of asbestos in buildings and how the asbestos containing materials came to be within the ground/soils on site(s).
• Know what asbestos containing materials in the soils look like and:
  • where to obtain information on asbestos on site prior to commencing work
  • what to do if suspicious materials are found
  • how to use appropriate workplace precautions, including the risk assessment process, nuisance dust mitigation measures or seek advice on workplace precautions, in respect of the risks of asbestos. This will include the prevention of ACMs being spread on site and the decontamination of plant equipment and personnel
  • how to undertake work activities in a safe manner and without risk to themselves or others
  • how to select the correct RPE and other PPE that may be required.
• Understand the key aspects of the asbestos regulations and how they fit into the broader context of health and safety legislation.
• Understand the procedures that must be followed when coming into unintentional contact with ACMs and an understanding of the appropriate emergency arrangements.
• Understand the requirements for clients and/or their appointed representatives to conduct a desktop study or obtain soil analysis test reports during the pre-construction phase of any project to identify the presence of any contamination; including the presence of asbestos containing materials.
• Be familiar with soil analysis results and how to decipher/understand the information contained within the soil analysis report. Including an understanding of when preliminary results indicate that a more robust and targeted asbestos in soils site investigation is required.
• Understand the risk assessment process requirements.
• Develop an asbestos management plan including an action plan.
• Determine the correct course of action for managing the removal of the asbestos containing soils in line with the identified levels of contamination/type of ACMs.
• Be able to understand which types of work need to be conducted by a Licensed Asbestos Contractor, which work is non-licensable and which activities are classified as notifiable non-licensable work.
• Be able to understand the requirements associated with the removal of soils containing asbestos material in accordance with legal and safe working practices and be able to recognise signs of poor or bad working practices.
• Have an appreciation of the control measures that must be implemented on site to prevent ACMs escaping site i.e. damping down.
• Be familiar with the legal requirements associated with the disposal of asbestos containing materials.

Additional information

Other organisations who work with asbestos awareness:

• ACAD (Asbestos Control and Abatement Division)
• ARCA (Asbestos Removal Contractors Association 
• HSE (Health and Safety Executive) 
• NFDC (National Federation of Demolition Contractors) 
• UKATA (UK Asbestos Training Association) 
• IATP (Independent Asbestos Training Providers)